Loose-leaf binder.



PATENTED AUG. 21

A No. 829,321.

E. A. CLEVELAND. LOOSE LEAFl BINDER. APPLICATION FILED 111111.29, 1905.

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ra: NnRals Ps1-sas om. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE.

LoosE-LEAF BINDER.

Specicaton of`Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application led April 28,1905. Serial No. 257,881.

T0 all whmn it nur/y concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. CLEVE- LAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device which is applicable to binders of the loose-leaf type, the object being to provide a device of simple construction and positive in its action which may be used in connection with covers or binders of the class known to the trade as the loose or removable leaf type. The use of binders of this description is well understood and need not be explained further than to state the principal requirement, which is that any number of pages or leaves may be inserted, replaced, or taken out without disturbing the remaining leaves.

' The object of my invention is to provide a device which shall meet this requirement and accomplish the result by the use of a simple locking mechanism which does not require separate keys or other devices and which in short shall be self-contained and operated by turning the book on one side to lock the covers in any desired position and to release the same by reversing the position of the book. To accomplish this result, I provide an upper and lower clamping section, which may be attached to the covers of a binder. These clamping-sections are normally held apart by the action of springs contained in telescoping members attached to said clamping-sections in the usual manner.

Attached to one of these clamping-sections, preferably the upper, I provide a post which carries a pawl or dog which is adapted to engage projections on the interior of a cooperating post or casing which is secured to the lower clamping-section. The construction of these parts is such that when the clamping-sections are in the position just indicated a free inward movement is permitted and the pawl or dog will operate to prevent an outward movement of the members. As the position of the clamping-sections and attached covers is reversed the pawl or dog will fall out of engagement and allow the parts to be separated by the action of the springs in the telescoping members heretofore referred to or by other means.

The construction and operation of the device will be more fully explained in connection with the drawings accompanying this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective side elevation of a pair of clamping-sections or binder-frames, with the covers and leaves of the book omitted. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation in section of the post carrying the locking mechanism. Fig. 3 is anenlarged side elevation in section showing a modification of the locking mechanism and post.

In Fig. l, at 1 and 2 is shown an upper and lower clamping-section, respectively, which.

may be attached by any suitable means to the covers of the binder. At 3 3 are shown telescoping members containing springs, which operate normally to separate the clamping-sections l and 2. At 4 is shown a post attached to the upper clamping-section 1 by any suitable means. This post carries at its lower end one or more pawls or dogs, such as 5 or 5. These dogs, as shown in Fig. 2, are pivoted at 6 and have at the outer end indentations or teeth adapted to engage proj ections which are preferably in the form of a spiral or thread formed on the interior surface of the casing 7. This casing 7 is attached -by any suitable means to the lower clamping-section 2. A slot 8 in the lower end of the post 4 is provided with a shoulder 11, formin a stop to limit the inward movement of t e dogs 5 in said slot. AuXiliary weights, such as 9, are provided, and a suitable opening lOis provided in the post 4 for containing said weights. The object of these weights is to -insure a more positive action and quicker movement of the dogs 5. This allows the dogs to be made very small and light, thus taking up very little space and permitting of a very compact construction, which is especially desirable in a device of this kind. At the same time by the use of these auxiliary weights which are contained in the post itself, and so require no additional room, all of the advantages of a heavier dog are obtained and in addition a muchquicker action isv insured, because of the fact that when the covers and clamping-sections are reversed in position from that shown in the drawings these weights will quickly fall away from the dog and allow them to drop out of engagement with the projections and permit the post 4 to be drawn out until the shoulder provided on the same engages the outer end of the casing 7.

In Fig. 3 is shown a slightly different embodiment and modification of my invention,

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A pawl 5 is pivoted at 6 and is adapted to engage projections which are preferably in the form of a spiral having ratchet-shaped teeth on the inside of the casing 7. The pawl 5 operates in a slot 8 in the lower end of the post 4 and is assisted in its operation by one or more auxiliary weights, such as 9, which are adapted to slide or roll in an opening l0 in the post 4.

t will be seen from the foregoing description that all of the moving parts are contained within the inner post and that no springs or other actuating means are necessary to insure the positive operation of the locking-pawl or dogs, gravity alone being the actuating force.

In operation, assuming that the covers stand in the position shown in the drawings, any desired number of leaves may be inserted between the clamping-sections and covers and the upper cover may be pressed down until the leaves are securely clamped or held and the cover will be retained in such a position by means of the dogs or pawl, as explained. y A further tighteningl may be effected by turning the post 4 and the attached dogs, which engage the spiral thread-like projection on the interior of the casing 7. The post 4 may be turned by using an ordinary screw-driver in the slot of the screw at the upper end thereof or by other suitable means. That portion of the pawl or dog against which the auxiliary weights impinge is so shaped that there will be no wedging action which would tend to retain the weight in position when the cover is reversed. At the same time a suflicient angle is given to this surface to insure the most efiicient and positive action of these weights in moving the dogs outward and retaining them in engagement 'with the projections, as described. It will be noted that a very small movement of these weights away from the dogs will allow them to rop out of engagement.

I do not confine myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to adapt the device to its various uses without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a binder, the combination with a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by, said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of. a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

2. In a binder, the combination with a pair of clamping members, a post having aslot at the lower end thereof attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog'carried by said post in said slot and'adapte'd to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

3. In a binder, the combination with a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pair of pawls or dogs carried by said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, an auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawls or dogs to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

4. In a binder, the combination with a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, a plurality of auxiliary weights cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

5. In a binder, the combination with a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by and pivoted to said post and adaptedto engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other ofY said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

6. In a binder, the combination with a pair of clamping members, a post having a slot at the lower end thereof attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post in said slot in such a manner that the bottom of said slot forms a stop to limit the movement of said pawl or dog, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

7 In a binder, the combination` with a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing having a serrated inner surface secured to the other of said clamping members and adapted to telescope over said post, and a separate auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

8. In a binder, the combination with a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing having a IOO threaded inner surface secured to the other of said clamping members and adapted to telescope over said post, means for rotating said post in said casing, an auxiliary weight coperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

9. In a binder, the combination with a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pair of pawls or dogs carried by and pivoted at a common point to said `post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over said post, an auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawls or dogs to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

10. In a binder, the combination with a pair of clamping members, a post having a chamber at the lower end thereof attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog carried by said post and adapted to engage the inner surface of a casing, a casing secured to the other of said clamping members adapted to telescope over a post, and a separate auxiliary weight located in said chamber in said post and cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same, substantially as described.

11. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog adapted to lock said post to a telescoping member, a telescoping member attached to the other of said clamping members, and a separate auxiliary accelerating` member cooperating with said pawl or dog.

12. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pawl or dog adapted to lock said post to a telescoping member, a telescoping member attached to the other of said clamping members, and a plurality of auxiliary accelerating members cooperating with said pawl or dog.

13. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said members, a pivoted pawl or dog adapted to lock said post to a telescoping member, a telescoping member attached to the other of said clamping members, and a separate auxiliary accelerating member cooperating with said pawl or dog.

14. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one oi' said members, a pair of pivoted pawls or dogs adapted to lock said post to a telescoping member, a telescoping member attached to the other of said clamping members, and an auxiliary accelerating member cooperating with said pawls or dogs.

15. In a binder, the combination of a pair of clamping members, a post attached to one of said clamping members, a pair of pivoted pawls or dogs adapted to lock said post to a telescoping member, a telescoping member attached to the other of said clamping members, and an auxiliary accelerating member adapted to engage said pawls or dogs to move the same into an operative position.

16. In a binder-lock, in combination, a pair of telescoping members, a pawl or dog carried by one of said members and adapted to engage the other of said members, and a separate auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same.

17. In a binder-lock, in combination, a pair of telescoping members, a pawl'or dog carried by one of said members and adapted to engage the other of said members, and a plurality of auxiliary weights cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the s'ame.

18. In a binder-lock, in combination, a pair of telescoping members, an oscillatory pawl or dog carried by one of said members and adapted to engage the other of said members, and an auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same.

19. In a binder-lock, in combination, a pair of telescoping members, a plurality of pawls or dogs carried by one of said members and adapted to engage the other of said mem bers, and an auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawls or dogs to accelerate the action of the same.

20. In a binder-lock, in combination, a pair of telescoping members, an oscillatory pawl or dog pivotally attached to one of said members and adapted to engage the other of said members, and a separate auxiliary weight cooperating with said pawl or dog to accelerate the action of the same.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 24th day of April, A. D. 1905.

FREDERICK A. CLEVELAND.

Witnesses:

S. CULVINER, Jr., PERcY M. HosKiNs. 

